Arch support for shoes



.May 28, 1929.

Filed Feb. 7. 1924- JOHN mss IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 28, 1929.

' UNITED STATES JOHN M. HISS, OE COLUMBUS, OHIO.

ARCH SUPPORT FOR SH OES.

Application filed February 7, 1924. Serial No. 691,294.

This invention relates to means for supporting the arches of the human foot and has for its principalobject the supporting of the different arches with different degrees of firmness.

In the prior art it has been customary to provide shoes and supports with material that will form either a rigid, spring or flexible support to the entire instep of the foot regardless of the difference in the requirements of the different arches. The methods have failed because they have caused pressure upward beneath the internal longitudinal arch thereby causing an atrophy of important foot muscles and consequently a weak foot. .They have also failed because they do not give a firm support to the external longitudinal arch with a cooperating spring support or rest of lesser firmness under the internal longitudinal arch.

By my present invention I provide a double shank piece, one part of which furnishes a relatively firm foundation for walking while the Other part provides a relatively elastic and yielding support for the internal arch,

thereby preventing anatrophy of the muscles of the foot. Another feature of my combination is the provision of a.transverse support extending across the forward end of the shank of the shoe, said transverse portion preventing twisting of the sole of the shoe when walking on rough ground, thereby preventing or minimizing painful callouses and injury to the ball of the foot.

My invention is embodied in the example herein shown and described, the features of novelty being finally claimed.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a planview of the arch support or shank piece showing the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1 looking at the left hand edge thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation viewed from rear.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, 5 designates the shank portion for supporting the outer longitudinal arch. This the a portion is comparatively rigid being formed of rather stiff sheet metal. The rear end of this piece has a portion 6 of any suitable form adapted to be supported. and secured to or above the heel 9 of the shoe while the forward end has a lateral or transverse portion 7 that extends across the shank just in rear of the ball line of the shoe. This shank portion can be perforated as indicated for securing it to the shoe. Secured preferably but not neces sarily to an extension of the rear portion 6 is a spring arm 8 extending forward and curved somewhat upwardly so as to extend under and serve asa rest for the inner longitudinal arch of the foot. This portion-8 is preferably of some springy or resilient material, steel for example, so as to be readily flexed, and it isfree at its forward end so as to permit its easy and prompt response to pressure applied to it when walking by the inner longitudinal arch of the foot. It will be understood, of course, that for application' to the right shoe the'parts can be the enantiomorphic duplicates of those shown so as to fit sungly to the instep when in normal position.

By my present construction it will be observed that both the longitudinal as well as the transverse arches are supported and that while the outer longitudinal arch is somewhat rigidly supported the inner arch which should be permitted to expand and contract under pressure and relief of pressure is also supported and prevent from -undue strains in that action. In use the external arch upon which the weight of the body is mainly imposed, the outer longitudinal member affords, as it should naturally, a more or less .firm support, while the inner arch, which is naturally high and carries a little of the load, is supported very lightly or so as to permit its nearly normal expansions and contractions, but not permit such action as might give rise to muscle strains. I

The forms and arrangements of parts can be changed without departing from the gist of the invention as claimed.

By the term shoe found in my claims I include any analogous form of foot wear.

What I claim is: v

1. A shoe provided with means for supporting the arches of the foot including, in

2. A shoe provided with means for supporting the arches of the foot including; in

combination, means incorporated with the shank of the shoe extending under the outer longitudinal arch for firmly supporting that arch and distinct means extending under the inner longitudinal arch for less firm 1y supporting that arch, said last named means being secured to the heel at its rear end and upwardly curved beyond the horizontal plane of the first mentioned means and being free for movement at its forward end.

A shoe provided with means for supporting the arches of the foot including, in

combination, means incorporated with the shank of the shoe and extending under the outer longitudinal arch for firmly supporting that arch, said meansalso extending at its forward end across the shoe in rear of the ball line of the foot, distinct means extending under the inner longitudinal arch for less firmly supporting that arch, said means being secured in the shoe to the heel only, whereby said arch supporting means are held fromrearward movement but are free to yield forwardly only under pressure of the weight of the body of the wearer.

JOHN M. HISS. 

